Line stoppers or the like



LINE STOPPERS OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 21 1961 IN VE N TOR Joe 2' Weeks I fiahh 'w by h M HIS ATWRNEYS United States Patent 3,129,687 LINE STDPPERS OR THE LIKE Joe T. Weeks, Port Neches, Tex. (282 Easty St, Silsbee, Tex.) Filed Dec. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 161,097 11} Claims. (Cl. 114-499) My invention relates to cable gripping and anchoring means generally but has particular reference to improvements in mooring line stoppers for ships.

The operation of docking a ship involves the passing of the respective fore and aft mooring lines from windlass drumheads of the ship to the dock, securing such lines to a dock-carried bits or posts, and then drawing the ship alongside the clock by Windlass operation. After the ship has been thus drawn against the dock, rope stoppers attached to the mooring line have heretofore been connected to ship deck-carried bits to prevent the occurrence of ship-to-dock mooring line slack while the line is being removed from the Windlass drum and properly secured to said deck-carried bits.

However, the aforementioned rope stoppers wear out quickly, tend to stretch or slip under load, and sometimes break at most inopportune times so as to cause accidents as the result of the ship easing away from the dock due to mooring line slack.

Therefore, the present invention has for its primary object to provide a novel mechanically operable stopper which will overcome the aforenoted objections to rope stoppers, is long lived and durable, can be readily applied to and removed from different areas lengthwise of a mooring cable, and which can be made to have a load sustaining capacity at least equal to that of the cable itself.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide in a device as characterized, novel manually operable means for releasing its cable-gripping elements.

Various other objects and advantages will be readily apparent to those versed in the art as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. In accordance with patent statute requirements, the drawings illustrate a now preferred example of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the drawing disclosures are to be taken as illustrative rather than limitative, since my inventive concept is susceptible of other mechanical expressions within the spirit and scope of the subject matter claimed hereinafter.

In the drawings wherein the same reference characters have been used to designate the same parts wherever they appear in the several views FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a ship and adjacent dock and showing my novel mooring line stopper in use;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the stopper;

FIG. 3 is an edge view of the same;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a jaw closing dual pulley and cable arrangement, the view being taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the cable gripping jaws; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional detail taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, and turning to FIG. 1, the ship 8 is shown alongside the dock 9 and moored thereto by cable 10. Following customary procedure mooring cable 10 is passed from the drumhead of the ships Windlass (not shown) through the eye of the usual ship rail-adjacent chock 11 and the looped free cable end 10a is anchored to the dock-carried bit 13. The ships rail, it may be noted, is indicated at 12 and its deck at 15.

In the FIG. 1 illustration, the easing of the ship against dock 9 by cable-winding Windlass operation has been completed and my novel stopper, generally indicated by 16, is shown applied to the cable 10 and anchored by chain loop 17 to the deck-carried bit 14. This is to prevent cable slack while the latter is being removed from the Windlass and fixedly laced to bit 14 and to an adjacent companion bit not shown.

Coming now to my novel line stopper 16, and referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that same includes the crossed levers 18, 19 which are pivotally connected as at 20 and provide the pivot-adjacent, opposed and parallel gripper-carrying ends 18a, 19a, respectively.

The opposed and elongated cable grippers 23, which are secured to lever portions 18a, 19a, are arcuate in cross section and have laterally spaced transversely extending cable-engaging friction strips 24 which are secured to their concaved inner faces by countersunk rivets 25 or the like. Friction strips 24 are preferably of material such as automobile brake lining and the lateral spacement of same makes for better gripping engagement with cable 10.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, each cable gripper member 24 has riveted 21a or otherwise secured to its convex back the base flange of an L-form mounting bracket 21 whose other flange is pivoted as at 22 to a flat top or bottom face of the related lever end portion 18a or 19a.

As earlier noted, the rear ends of levers 18, 19 have a connection, which will shortly be described, with the bit 14-sustained chain loop 17. Thus with my stopper applied as in FIG. 1, any paying out pull on cable 10 is counteracted by a tighter engagement of grippers 23 against cable 10.

The connection between levers 18, 19 and chain 17 will now be described. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, any suitable flexible connections 27a connect the apertured rear ends of levers 18, 19 with the U-form carriers of two way or double grooved pulleys 27. The respective ends of the chain 17 are secured to a different one of the two looped ends 28a of a flexible connection 28 which is passed about the pulleys 27 as indicated at 28b. Clips 29 secure loops 28a. Thus cable 10-induced pull will be equalized to the rear ends of levers 18 and 19.

An important feature to be noted is that runs of connection portion 28b (see FIGS. 2 and 4) which move toward different ones of the pulleys 27 when the levers 18, 19 are moved to separate grippers 23 are provided with pulley-engaging stops 280. These stops 28c prevent excessive opening movement of grippers 23 so as to have them always conveniently close to a cable to be gripped. A shackle or other connection 29a is incorporated in chain 17 for possible use to release the latter from bit 14 in case the, hereinafter referred to, gripper release lever 30 should become inoperative, which is a remote possibility.

As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 6, the lever 18 provides the recess 18b extending to both sides of the pivot 20 so as to receive pivot-adjacent portions of the companion lever 19. This is necessary so that the gripper carrying lever portions 18a, 19a will lie in the same plane, and likewise the rear portions of levers 18, 19.

Manually operable means, including the aforementioned release lever 30, is provided for releasing grippers 23 from mooring line 10 after the latter has been laced to bits 10 or when it is desired to cast off from the dock, as for instance, when a brief stop has been made. As shown in FIG. 3, release lever 30 has the bifurcated inner portion 31 which receives lever 19 and is pivoted theretoas at 32. The inner end of bifurcation 31 has journalled therein on pin 34, the roller 33 which is coplanar with the opposed inner edge of lever 18. Thus, as will be clear from FIG. 2, a counterclockwise movement of re 3 lease lever 30' (as viewed in FIG. 3) brings roller 33 into bearing contact with the inner edge of lever 18 and continued counterclockwise movement of 30 results in the release of grippers 23 from mooring line 10.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a very strong, durable, long lived and eificient mooring line stopper which is inexpensive to make and easy to operate. It will be clear from FIG. 1 that the greater the pull on line the tighter the line will be gripped by members 23.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A mooring cable stopper or the like comprising a pair of crossed levers, pivot means connecting said levers adjacent one end whereby to provide opposed short cableadjacent pinching means and long actuating arms, opposed cable-gripping portions carried by said short arms, a pulley carried by the free end of each operating arm, a flexible connection passed about each of said pulleys and connecting the same, so that the pulleys will be substantially spaced from opposite sides of a cable when the cable-gripping portions are in operative position, and a rearwardly extending U-portion provided by said flexible connection for anchoring engagement to a bit or other fixed object, and said cable-gripping portions comprising separable members having opposed and longitudinally coextensive concaved cable opposing surfaces and a series of friction-providing facing strips of substantial width transversely secured to the concaved faces of the respective cable gripping portion-providing members and said facing strips of each series being laterally spaced, L-form cleats having one flange secured to the backs of said gripping portions, and means pivoting the other cleat flange to the related short lever arm and in substantially flat contact with one of the top and bottom faces of the latter.

2. A mooring cable stopper or the like comprising a pair of crossed levers, pivot means connecting said levers adjacent one end whereby to provide opposed short cableadjacent pinching means and long actuating arms, opposed cable-gripping portions carried by said short arms, a pulley carried by the free end of each operating arm, a flexible connection passed about each of said pulleys and connecting the same, so that the pulleys will be substantially spaced from opposite sides of a cable when the cable-gripping portions are in operative position, and a rearwardly extending U-portion provided by said flexible connection for anchoring engagement to a bit or other fixed object, and manually operable means for separating said cable gripping portion-carrying arms and comprising a release lever having a bifurcated portion, means intermediate the ends of said bifurcated portion and pivoting the same to one of said lever operating arms, and an antifriction bearing member adjacent the inner end of said release lever and engageable with the inner edge of the operating arm of the other lever when, the release lever is swung in one direction.

3'. In a cable gripper or the like comprising a pair of crossed pivotally connected levers providing cable grip ping portions adjacent one end and rearwardly ext'endipg operating portions extending to the other end'; the improvement which comprises a gripping portion release lever pivoted to the operating portion of one of said levers and having. an inner end engageable with the operating portion of the other lever so that when the release lever is swung in the proper direction the gripping portions will be separated, said cable-gripping portions comprising separable members having opposed and longitudinally coextensive concaved cable opposing surfaces, Lform cleats having one flange secured to the backs of said gripping portions, and means pivoting the other cleat flange to the related short lever arm and in substantially flat contact with one of the top and bottom faces of the latter.

4. The structure of claim 3, and said release lever having a bifurcated portion opening from its inner end which receives and is pivoted to the operating portion of the journalled in and adjacent the free end of said bifurcation for engagement with the operating portion of the second ever.

5. A mooring cable stopper or the like comprising a pair of crossed levers, pivot means connecting said levers adjacent one end whereby to provide opposed short cableadjacent gripper arms and long actuating arms, opposed cable-gripping portions carried by said short arms, a pulley carried by the free end of each operating arm, a flexible connection passed about each of said pulleys and connecting the same, a rearwardly extending U-portion provided by said flexible connection for anchoring engagement to a bit or other fixed o'oject, said cable-gripping portions comprising separable members having opposed and longitudinally coextensive concaved cable opposing surfaces, L-form cleats having one flange secured to the backs of said gripping portions, and means pivoting the other cleat flange to the related short lever arm and in substantially flat contact with one of the top and bottom faces of the latter.

6. In a cable gripper or the like comprising a pair of crossed pivotally connected levers providing cable gripping portions adjacent one end and rearwardly extending operating portions extending to the other end; the im provement which comprises said cable-gripping portions comprising separable members having opposed and longitudinally coextensive concaved cable opposing surfaces and a series of friction-providing facing strips transversely secured to the concaved faces of the respective cable gripping portion-providing members and said facing strips of each series being laterally spaced, L-form cleats having one flange secured to the backs of said gripping portions, and means pivoting the other cleat flange to the related short lever arm and in substantially flat contact with one of the top and bottom faces of the latter.

7. In a cable gripper or the like comprising a pair of crossed pivotally connected levers providing cable gripping portions adjacent one end and rearwardly extending operating portions extending to the other end; the improvement which comprises said cable-gripping portions comprising separable members having opposed and longitudinally coextensive concaved cable opposing surfaces, L-form cleats having one flange secured to the backs of said gripping portions, and means pivoting the other cleat flange to the related short lever arm and in substantially flat contact with one of the top and bottom faces of the latter.

8. A mooring cable stopper or the like for ships, comprising a pair of crossed levers, pivot means connecting said levers adjacent one end of same, whereby to provide opposed short cable-adjacent forward arms and long rear actuating arms, opposed cable-gripping portions carried by said short forward arms, a pulley carried by the free end of each rear operating arm, a flexible connection passed at least once about outer portions of each of said pulleys and providing rearwardly extending portions in addition to at least one between-pulley-length, an anchoring means for engagement with a ship-carried deck bit or the like, said anchoring means being at least functionally integral with the rearwardly extending end portions of said flexible connection, means for limiting outward movement of said short forward lever arms so as to always dispose the gripping portions of the latter in close adjacency to opposite portions of a cable to be gripped, and said last mentioned means comprising a pulley-engageable abutment fast on the between-pulley-length of said flexible connection for limiting longitudinal movement of said connection length.

9. The structure of claim 8, and said cable-gripping portions comprising separable members having opposed and longitudinally coextensive concaved cable opposing inner surfaces, a series of transversely extending and laterally spaced facing strips secured to the concaved inner 3,129,687 5 faces of the respective cable gripping portion-providing different ones of said pulleys to limit longitudinal movemembers. ment of each of said lengths.

10. The structure of claim 8 but wherein each pulley References Cited in the file of this atent has two axially spaced peripheral grooves, an intermediate p portion of said flexible connection being passed twice 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS about outer portions of each pulley and received in the 92,002 Bezenah June 29, 1869 respective pulley grooves to provide two spaced between- 417,711 Deo Dec. 24, 1889 pulley lengths of said flexible connection, and a pulley- ,372,792 Amans Mar. 29, 1921 engaging abutment fast on each of said between-pulley ,745,912 Meyer May 15, 1956 flexible connection lengths and simultaneously engaging 10 1 97 Hollis et a1. Nov. 24, 1959 

1. A MOORING CABLE STOPPER OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A PAIR OF CROSSED LEVERS, PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING SAID LEVERS ADJACENT ONE END WHEREBY TO PROVIDE OPPOSED SHORT CABLEADJACENT PINCHING MEANS AND LONG ACTUATING ARMS, OPPOSED CABLE-GRIPPING PORTIONS CARRIED BY SAID SHORT ARMS, A PULLEY CARRIED BY THE FREE END OF EACH OPERATING ARM, A FLEXIBLE CONNECTION PASSED ABOUT EACH OF SAID PULLEYS AND CONNECTING THE SAME, SO THAT THE PULLEYS WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY SPACED FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF A CABLE WHEN THE CABLE-GRIPPING PORTIONS ARE IN OPERATIVE POSITION, AND A REARWARDLY EXTENDING U-PORTION PROVIDED BY SAID FLEXIBLE CONNECTION FOR ANCHORING ENGAGEMENT TO A BIT OR OTHER FIXED OBJECT, AND SAID CABLE-GRIPPING PORTIONS COMPRISING SEPARABLE MEMBERS HAVING OPPOSED AND LONGITUDINALLY COEXTENSIVE CONCAVED CABLE OPPOSING SURFACES AND A SERIES OF FRICTION-PROVIDING FACING STRIPS OF SUBSTANTIAL WIDTH TRANSVERSELY SECURED TO THE CONCAVED FACES OF THE RESPECTIVE CABLE GRIPPING PORTION-PROVIDING MEMBERS AND SAID FACING STRIPS OF EACH SERIES BEING LATERALLY SPACED, L-FORM CLEATS HAVING ONE FLANGE SECURED TO THE BACKS OF SAID GRIPPING PORTIONS, AND MEANS PIVOTING THE OTHER CLEAT FLANGE TO THE RELATED SHORT LEVER ARM AND IN SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT CONTACT WITH ONE OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM FACES OF THE LATTER. 